Abigail R. Gehring

This book is full of superficial information on a great number (far too great a number) of topics, many of which have very little to do with homesteading per se. Gehring does admit to a nonstandard definition in which homesteading means pretty much anything you want it to, thus the large amount of fluff included in the book (yoga? aromatherapy? really?). I'm adept in a number of crafts, but again, although I can dig clay from a riverbank, fashion a pot and fire it in a handbuilt kiln (which show more you will NOT learn in this book), I don't see pottery making as a part of homesteading; and (unless you can go sheep-to-shawl as the saying is), I would deem knitting as a homesteading skill only in a peripheral way. Even so, it would take a book as large as this on any of these specialized topics to make a start. Meanwhile, the book suffers from a lack of space to cover vital core homesteading topics such as gardening - and, in the case of gardening, there is a willingness to accept chemical solutions unquestioningly. I'm writing this review without actual access to the book, which I borrowed from the library and within 20 minutes realized would be of no help whatsoever to our family homesteading endeavours.

Taken as a book of aspirations to read about natural living and dream that you could be a homesteader someday, it's not bad (although I would still take issue with the chemical gardening). But what it is not, is a practical book for people actually involved in homesteading. show less

This is a pretty fun book to read. Easy to read, super easy to read. Lots of websites to get you started if you're interested in some of the Odd Jobs Gehring proposes in her book.

I would say that I wish she had gone into some jobs like yearbook photographer, vending machine stocker, that kind of thing. Maybe they aren't odd enough?

If I could just step out of my life tomorrow and onto my own homestead. This book brings back happy memories of childhood and I love it. I'd go Back to Basics right now and if I get the chance, I will. This book is a must have for anyone who wants access to everything they need to know to make it.

Wonderfully eclectic and informative, this is a book I grew up with and have continued to enjoy.